THE MAGAZINE 



OP 



HORTICULTURE. 



JANUARY, 1838. 



ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 



Art. I. Jl Retrospective Vieic of the Progress of Horticulture 

 in the United States, during the past year. By the Editor. 



When we announced our intention of submitting to our read- 

 ers an article, under this head, at the commencement of this and 

 each succeeding volume, we were in hopes that all those ama- 

 teurs and practical gardeners, who feel interested in the science of 

 horticulture, would have come forward and assisted us in render- 

 ing such an article as complete as possible. Distributed as gar- 

 dening is, in its various branches, throughout nearly the whole extent 

 of the Union, it would be almost impossible for us to give a very 

 correct view of its present state, unless we were aided by those 

 who reside at a distance from us: knowing such would be the 

 case, we gave early notice to our friends, and requested all ama- 

 teurs and practical gardeners who appreciated our motives, to 

 send us any information, in relation to the subject, which would 

 aid us in perfecting this article; but we regret that we have only 

 been favored with communications from two of our friends. We 

 shall endeavor, however, to offer some remarks upon the advance- 

 ment of horticulture in this country, during the past year. 



Gardening has, until lately, in this country, attracted so little 

 attention, and is yet practised in such a limited degree, that, as 

 an art of culture, it can but be considered as in its infancy. Pre- 

 viously to the establishment of the various horticultural societies 

 which at present exist, there were but few individuals who prac- 

 tised gardening to any extent, and the objects under cultivation 

 were very limited, compared with what are now to be found in 

 ordinary gardens. These societies, numbering among their mem- 

 bers many of our most distinguished and intelligent citizens, have 



VOL. IV. NO. I. 1 



