428 General JS'^olices. 



sively useful. After all, much, very much, will depend upon our 

 individual exertions. If we show a spirit to go ahead, and to be 

 useful to the community, assistance will be tendered from every 

 quarter. But only those who do exert themselves, can or ought 

 to expect assistance from others. We must put our own shoul- 

 ders to the wheel, before we call upon Hercules. We can ren- 

 der this association pleasant and useful to ourselves, and highly 

 beneficial to the public, if we but resolve to do so. But unless 

 we set out, and persevere, in the resolution to do so, we had bet- 

 rer suffer the association to die in embryo, and to forget that we 

 had the ambition to be useful in promoting horticultural improve- 

 ment, but lacked the resolution and the spirit to carry out our laud- 

 able design. 



In conclusion — to the gentlemen who have interested them- 

 selves in getting up this exhibition, and particularly those of a sis- 

 ter state, whose contributions of superior fruits and flowers afford 

 the strongest incentive to perseverance on our part, I feel myself 

 authorized to tender the grateful acknowledgments of the associ- 

 ation. A multiplicity of circumstances, and I may say of mis- 

 apprehensions, combined with protracted bad weather, have tend- 

 ed very much to diminish the interest of our first exhibition; and 

 yet I believe I may venture to say, that there has never, on any 

 occasion, been collected in our state, a greater number of excel- 

 lent varieties of fi-uit, or finer samples, than has been exhibited 

 on this occasion; and although the season has been highly un pro- 

 pitious to the floral department, yet the exhibition of fine dahlias, 

 the favorite flower of the season, has been peculiarly brilliant. 

 We have no reason to despond, but much to induce perseverance 

 and renewed exertion. We have laid the foundation of improve- 

 ment in that branch of industry which administers largely to the 

 wants and elegancies of life. We can rear the superstructure. 

 We can deserve success, though we cannot command it. And 

 even the high satisfaction of doing this, is a consoling, if not sat- 

 isfying reflection, to him who labors for the public good. 



MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. 



Art. I. General Notices. 



Mode of prolonging the Existence of aged Trees. — Experience has 

 shown that the separation by an axe or by accident, of any large branch 

 of a tree arrived at full growth, causes a wound, which it cannot cover 

 with fresh bark if left to itself. The contact of the air, the rain^ and 



