NEW ENGLAND FARMER, 



284 



An Initiatory Discourse, delivered at Geneva, 27th I They create n new spirit of horticultural and 

 ATovember, 1823, before an asstmUij, from wltich, ' botanical enterprise. In our couiitrf, a neresKary 

 on thai ddj, was formed the Domestic Hurlicullural 



March 27, 1829. 



Society of the western parts of the state of JVew 

 York. By Myron Hollet, Esq. 



(Concluded from pa(^e 276 J 

 In 1805 a private association for Horticultural 

 objects was commenced in London, wliich was in- 

 corporated by a royal charter, in 1809. In 1803, 

 in Edinburgh, a Florist Society was instituted, 

 which, in 1809, enlarged its views and took the 

 title of the Caledonian Horticultural Society. At 

 Paisley, in Scotland, a Florist society, was, some 

 time iigo, established, of which an eminent writer 

 observes, that » the rearing of beautiful tlowers is 

 found to improve the taste for manufactuiing el- 

 egant patterns of fancy muslin ; while the florists 

 of Paisley have been long remarked for the peace- 

 fulness of their dispositions, and the sobriety of 

 their manners." 



Several Botanical and Horticultural societies 

 have been connnenced in the United States, some 

 of which are rapidly advancing in importance and 

 respectability. The influence of them collectively, 

 and of tlieir several scientific and public spirited 

 members, individually, has been very perceptible 

 in awakening a general desire for the improved 

 cultivation of gardens and pleasure grounds, and 

 an increasing love of rural pursuits. One of the 

 most useful of these is, the New York Horticultu- 

 ral Society, which was originally formed in 1818, 

 though not incorporated till 1822. The effects of 

 this Society are most agreeably manifested in the 

 su|)erior (piantity and quality of culinary vegeta- 

 bles, fruits, and flowers, to be found in the New 

 York market ; in the emulation excited among 

 actual cultivators ; in the valuable practical publi- 

 cations, upon gardening and planting, which it has 

 encouraged, and in the public discourses of sev- 

 eral of its most intelligent and accomplished mem- 

 bers. With these societies, I trust, the institu- 

 tions which we are now assembled to originate, 

 will become an active and useful fellow laborer. 



The benefits of such associations are numerous 

 and of great importance. 



They encourage profitable industry. In tlievi 

 cinity of London there are occupied as fruit an 

 kitchen gardens, about 14,000 acres of land, of 

 which tlni annual produce is sold for more than 

 $4,000,000. Within six miles of Edinburgh, there 



and most desirable consequence of this will be, 

 that we shall obtain a complete acquaintance with 

 all our indigenous vegetables. From the east and 

 from the west, from the north and from the south, 

 our native plants will all he gathered. Etery 

 swamp, and every valley, erery plain, and every 

 mountain, which is surveyed by the American 

 eagle, in his widest flight, will be made tributary, 

 with all its vegetable wealth, to the great interests 

 of science and humanity. 



The science of Horticulture is capable of great 

 improvement, eren in those countries where it has 

 been mo.st sedulously fostered. Recently, by the 

 application of scientific ingenuity, better apples 

 and pears are said to have been originated in 

 England and Flanders, than any before known. — 

 And those countries, now vastly in advance of us 

 in Horticulture, are making new discoveries and 

 acquisitions from year to year. The finest fruits 

 and plants we now cultivate ; those which are es- 



hursting bud, and the fragrant urbor. One of the 

 most pathetic passages of English poetry, i»Eve'* 

 farewell to the garden of Eden. 



" Must I thus leave thee. Paradise ? thus leave 

 Thpp, native soil ! these happy walks and shades. 

 Fit haunt of Gods t where 1 had hope to spend, 

 Qn>t ihoiiph aad, the respite of that day 

 'I'hat mtist he mortal to us both. O flowerc, 

 That never will in other climate grow, 

 My early viMilation, and my last 

 At even, which I bred up with tender hand 

 Krom the first op'iiinf; bud, and gave ye names ! 

 Wiio now shall rear ye to the sun, or rank 

 Your tribes, and water from th' ambrosial fount f 

 Thee, lastly, nuptial bowei I by me adorn'd, 

 With what to S'ghl or small was sweet ! Irom Ihee 

 How fchall I part, and whither wander down 

 Into ■ lower world ; to this obscure 

 And wild ? How khall we breathe in other air 

 Less pure, accuslom'd to immortal fruits ?" 

 To old age the employments of Hortictihure are 

 elightfiil and appropriate. They afford a secure 

 retreat frotn the noise, turbulence, ingratitude, and 



sential to comfort, as well as those which minister | ^pr,.g contentions of a stormy world ; and inspire 

 to luxury, are not natives of our cotintry. O"'' | serenity and cheerfulness. Cicero, in his letters 

 potatoes, peaches, pears, and the better kinds of" ,,, Atticus, speaks of them as the best remedy for 

 plums, cherries, and apples, have beeti all hrousht | „j.;|,c .,,„| cuncern of mind. In a thousand way* 

 to us from abroad. And we are not yet in pos- " 

 session of a tithe of the nutritious and desirable 

 fruits and plants with which the earth is stored. — 

 In relation to all these, inquiry and competition, 

 suggested and aided by the combined intelligeiiee, 

 applause, and other rewards of |)ublic associations, 

 will be beneficial. By these means an extensive 

 acquaintance with the most esteemed Hortictiltu 



a garden serves to keep fresh and elastic the 

 siiiings and symi)athies of life. The heart finds 

 interesting remembrances, and soothing society, in 

 all its objects. That shade is most refreshing, 

 which is aflbrded by trees of our own planting : 

 that fruit is most delicious, which we have most 

 fieqtiently participated with otir friends : those 

 flowers have the brightest bloom, which have 



1 |)roductions, of every country, will he obtained; ^^^^^^ j|,g j^^.^ a„j ,jig ornament of our wives and 



are computed to be 500 acres, occupied in the same 

 way, of which the annual produce is worth near 

 100,000 dollars. For the supply of the New 

 York market with vegetables, fruits, and flowers, 

 there are cultivated several thousand acres of 

 land, of which the aggregate annual proilucc, iti 

 the market, is supi)osed to he near $400,000. — 

 The portions of earth thus ctiltivated, are far more 

 productive than any other equal portions of land 

 in the countries where they are situated. And 

 they give a healthy and virtuous employment to 

 great tnultitudes of human beings. 



They (n-omote important practical knowledge, 

 by the itiquiries which they stitnulate, and the 

 competition which they inspire. They lead to the 

 institution of an immense number of more skilful 

 and carefid processes of cultivation than are pre- 

 viously followed, from some of which advanta- 

 geous results may be reasonably anticipated. And 

 by conversation, by writing, by public addresses, 

 and every other method of coinniunicating knowl- 

 edge, every advantageous result will immediately 

 be shared by the whole community. 



and the most sagacious and persevering tise of a 

 the means necessary for their acquisiiion, will he 

 adopted. Calling in the aid of men of science, of 

 amateurs, and cultivators, both at home ami 

 abroad, such societies may become the fortunate 

 instrtimi'nts of disseminating, universally, every 

 valuable seed, and platit, and tree, which is borne 

 upon the prolific bosom of the etirth. 



The tendencies of such associations are all lib- 

 eral, and philanthriqiic, and social. By muting I 

 gentlemen of all classes, professions, and opinions 

 ^1 ' in the prosecution of interesting and conunendalile 

 objects, the amiable and elegant courtesies of life 

 will be extended. Their stated meetings will be 

 embellished by taste, intelligence, and ft'stive re- 

 finement ; and all will go away from them with a 

 keener relish of the beautiesof nature, and a more 

 cheerful devotion to rural employments. 



By inomoting the knowledge and tlic love of 

 nature, they are calculated to improve theconiliict 

 of life, and the sympathies of the heart. The 

 pleasures of gardening are retireil, peaceful, calm. 

 They .ire equally suitable to the gaiety of :idv;inc- 

 ins:, and the gravity of declining, lif(3. How much 

 the pure attachment to home is streiigtheneil, m 

 the hearts of children, by tmiting their exertions, 

 their solicitudes, and their tastes in the variotis dec- 

 orations of the garden ! Impressions formeil at 

 home, decide the ftiture character. And can it 

 be that these sympathetic im|)ressions, upon the 

 domestic affections, are not beneficial to moral 

 conduct ? Ask the sons and daughters of those 

 who have been able to indulge their taste for orna- 

 mental shrubbery and gardening, when they are 

 withdrawt) from the paternal roof, what objects 

 are most vividly and ten.lerly associated, in their 

 minds, with those whom they most love, iind yoti 

 will soon learn the value of the shady walk, the 



ihildren. 



Horticulture is favorable to universal charity, to 

 virtuous reflection, and to the highest attainments 

 of which the soul of man is capable. Surround- 

 ed with fragrance, and harmony, and beauty, and 

 order, all giving witness to the attributes of their 

 Great Cretitor, that heart nmst be dreadfully per- 

 verse which is not spontaneously filled with glad- 

 ness and gratitude for such accumulated blessings. 

 And these sentiments naturally dispose us to re- 

 I sard, with the most cordial comphicency, all the 

 works of the same hand. 



Of all organized beings, trees, and leaves, and 

 flowers, appear to me to aftbid the most obvious 

 traces of the intelligence and goodness of God. — 

 A very small portion of knowledge and curiosity 

 is siiflicient to discern the marks of design in their 

 strticture ; and still less, to apprehend the tenden- 

 cy of that design. They minister to so many of 

 our essential wants, our habitual comforts, and 

 our innocent enjoytnents, that their signature of 

 ffoodness is lei>i!ile to all. And whoever reads it 

 must feel himself summoned, not violently and 

 clatnorously, hut silently and most attractively, to 

 those rcficctions which improve the heart. 



The best precepts of e;<hhly philosophy, and 

 the hallowed itistructions of heavenly wisdom, 

 have fimnil the most propitious seats for their in- 

 culcation in gardens. Socrates was accustomed 

 to teach, in one, upon the hawks of the Cephisus ; 

 and Jesus, in another, upon those of Cedron. — 

 The most interesting events that ever have occtir- 

 rcd, or that ever can occur, on this side of the 

 gnive, have taken place in gardens. In one, the 

 shadow of death first fell upon tht human race ; 

 in nnotlier, the glorious light of iirunortal life, 

 breaking through that shadow, first beamed upon 

 the world ! 



