Bvolutfon of Iborttculture 



about Boston, or even to enumerate those 

 which have long graced the principal cities 

 and towns of New Kngland (and of these 

 there are many that well deserve notice), 

 would far exceed reasonable limits. It 

 can therefore only be here stated that in 

 whatever direction the attention should 

 be turned, there would be found ample 

 evidence of the wonderful advance of 

 horticulture, in other words, of its evolu- 

 tion, during the present century, as seen 

 in the better cultivation of orchards and 

 gardens, the larger and better supply of 

 fruit, vegetables, and flowers, as also in 

 the ornamentation of estates, large and 

 small, and, in fine, in every possible im- 

 provement which can be directly or in- 

 directly applied to this noble art. 



It remains to consider the principal 

 factors which have conduced to these 

 beneficial results. First and foremost 

 among these may be placed the 

 establishment of horticultural socie- 

 ties. It was not until the close of the 

 Revolution that horticulture or agricul- 

 138 



