472 MASSACHUSETTS HOKTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



in 1822, when the Hon. John Lowell wrote, " We are 

 utterly destitute, in New England, of nurseries for fruit 

 trees on an extensive scale. We have no cultivators on 

 whom we can rely for a supply of the most common 

 plants of the smaller fruits, such as strawberries, goose- 

 berries, and raspberries of the superior kinds ; we have 

 no place to which we can go for plants to ornament our 

 grounds; we have not a single seedsman who can 

 always furnish us with fresh seeds of annual flowers on 

 which we can place a reliance." Yet it would appear 

 that the condition of horticulture in this country, even 

 where most improved, was not, on the whole (however 

 it may have been in regard to nursery and seed estab- 

 lishments), better than here ; for Mr. Lowell, writing 

 in 1831, said, " Horticulture was an advanced art in the 

 North when it was unknown in the South, and but 

 imperfectly in the Middle States. It is equally true 

 now. Massachusetts is far before New York and Penn- 

 sylvania in horticulture, if you take into view the 

 improved state of private gardens, the number of its 

 green and grape houses, and the beauty of its country 

 seats. There do not exist in the whole range of the 

 United States more finely cultivated or highly orna- 

 mented country residences than this ancient State can 

 show." The precedence then taken has continued, and 

 we may say in one word what we believe will be 

 admitted by all, that horticulture as an art is more 

 advanced in Massachusetts, and especially in the vicinity 

 of Boston, than anywhere else in the United States. 

 This is not due to any natural advantages, for in climate 

 and soil our State is less favored than most others ; but 

 it may rather be ascribed to these less favorable circum- 

 stances, necessitating more skilful and thorough cul- 



