424 On Improvement in Horticulture. 



China, and the pear from Europe. Our pot-herbs and cultivated 

 medicinal plants are also most of them exotics: parsley is from 

 vSardinia, pursley from South America, nasturtium from Peru, 

 thyme from Spain, sage from the south of Europe, savory from 

 Erance, marjoram from Sicily, rhubarb from Asia, and balm from 

 Switzerland. So also of our flowering shrubs and plants; the 

 j)ink, the daffodil, and narcissus, are from Italy, the dahlia from 

 Mexico, the ranunculus and anemone, from Capadocia; the hy- 

 drangea, balsam and camellia from China and Japan; the tulip and 

 hyacinth from the Levant; the tuberose from Ceylon, and our 

 finest paeonies from the "Celestial Empire." And of trees, we 

 are indebted to the north of Asia for the ornamental horse-chest- 

 nut, and to the Indian islands for the towering ailanthus. These 

 are but a small portion of the contributions wdiich horticulture 

 Las gathered from foreign lands, for our convenience and pleasure; 

 and every year adds to the list new genera, species and varieties. 

 Providence seems to have apportioned its bounties among the dif- 

 ferent nations, as if to admonish them of their mutual dependence 

 upon each other, and to excite in them a spirit of Christian phi- 

 lanthropy and benevolence. 



Private gardens, of great extent and beauty, abound in most of 

 the countries of Europe, and they are maintained at a princely 

 expense. In these not only hardy fruits and vegetables are forc- 

 ed to early maturity, by artificial means, but most of the tropical 

 fruits are brought to perfection, by the aid of hot-houses and walls. 

 Strawberries, in this way, are produced for the table in April, 

 melons in May, grapes and peaches In June, and pine-apples at 

 almost every season. It is assumed, that in Britain a gentleman 

 may derive from his garden, with the aid of glass and artificial 

 heat, a more varied and richer dessert, throughout the year, than is 

 to be met with on the most luxurious tables in any other country. 

 And yet the summers of England are so cool, that the peach, grape, 

 jnelon, &c. require the protection of a wall or glass, to bring 

 them to maturity; and even our fine Spitzembergh apple does not 

 ripen well there without a wall. Gardens of this description, 

 though generally on a limited scale, may be found in the vicinage 

 of our commercial towns, and will doubtless be multiplied as we 

 advance in wealth and horticultural improvement. These cases 

 of high improvement, or rather extravagant refinement, in horti- 

 culture, are not mentioned as models for general imitation. They 

 indicate an expenditure which few here can prudently indulge in, 

 if they would. Yet where there is the ability, and a disposition 

 to extravagent expenditure, it may be indulged in, in horticulture, 

 with advantage, rather than prejudice, to public morals and pub- 

 lic usefulness. The examples to which we refer, furnish mod- 

 els of im]irovement, which we are at liberty to adopt on any 

 scale that shall comport with our desires and our means. 



