156 Retrospective Criticism. 



which our corre.«pondent has made the subject of his criticism, we are 

 not aware that we were mistaken. We had supposed ourselves to be 

 sufficiently well informed respecting the progress of the science of gar- 

 dening in New York to speak correctly. We have no desire to under- 

 rate the amount of taste in our sister city; neither have we the least 

 wish to make Boston or Philadelphia appear more advanced in horti- 

 culture than they really are. We feel as much for New York, and we 

 speak in her praise as frequently, as if we were an inhabitant of this 

 city; as if we were one of the number of her amateur and practical culti- 

 vators. We have not lacked opportunities to know just how far, and how 

 fast, she has advanced in gardening: we have watched the progress of the 

 art, not only here, but every where in the Union, with no little attention, 

 during the last five or six years; and on the strength of our own knowl- 

 edge and what we have learnt from our friends, who are among the most 

 active of horticulturists in the vicinity, we have based our observations. 

 If we have, after all, advanced an incorrect opinion, we shall be as 

 ready to make a full acknowledirment, as we were deliberate in putting 

 forth such a statement. Mr. Hogg's criticism would imply that we 

 have been much mistaken: let us see, as briefly as possible, on what 

 grounds. 



It would be impossible here to go back any length of time, and re- 

 view the advancement of gardening in New York, even if we were dis- 

 posed so to do. We will allow that, at one period, New York took a 

 higher stand than Boston. The first Horticultural Society in the coun- 

 try was formed here; the most extensive nurseries in the Union are lo- 

 cated in its vicinity; and the facilities for the importati(m of plants are 

 much greater than in either Boston or Philadelphia. We will allow all 

 this; and here we stoj). Date our period six or ten years since, and 

 now compare the two, or three, cities. 



It is true that Mr. Floy has raised a number — a great number — of 

 seedling camellias. It is true that our friend and correspondent him- 

 self has had, and has now, the best collection of geraniums in the 

 Union; and it is equally true that Mr. Boll, Harrison and others, have 

 done much in importing plants and raising new kinds from seed. All 

 this is well. Mr. Floy's camellias are, some of them, handsome — one 

 in particular, Floyf, is as magnificent a flower as has ever been raised. 

 But although he has produced such a great number, and many of them 

 so long since, yet few collections in the country possess more than four 

 or five of the best. All these fine things have been kept at home — as a 

 light under a bushel; — we do not doubt our New York friends have 

 raised many beautiful things, and been gratified, nay, delighted, with 

 their own plants, but they have not certainly afforded that pleasure to 

 others which they should have done, if they jiossessed extraordinary 

 merits. In Boston, a plant of any beauty is no sooner known, than it 

 is sought after by every amateur and cultivator of flowers. 



" Comparisons are odious," and we wish to make none individually; 

 but we would ask our friends to compare the plant structures of Boston, 

 their style, size and number, with those of New York. And then the 

 collections of plants — their extent and variety, with those of the latter 

 city. To say that the plant edifices in the vicinity of Boston are supe- 

 rior to anything in the country is unnecessary, as, with two or three 

 exceptions, they are acknowledged to be so by all. To say that 

 the establishments of Mr. Gushing and Col. Perkins; the camellias of 

 Messrs. Wilder and Hovey &. Co., the heaths in the private collection 

 of Mr. Towne, are superior to any thing of the kind in New York, is 

 equally needless. We have no time nor space now to give our friends 

 a catalogue of the plants which are possessed in Boston, and thus 

 afford them the opportunity to enrich their collections. But at a fu- 



