Vol 6» 



GENESEE FARMER. 



13 



HORTICULTURAL DALVIRTME.YT. 



BY Pi BARRV. 



HORTICULTURE. 



It is our design to devote, henceforward, a limited 

 poition of our cokunns!, to matter peitaining exclu- 

 sively to \io\i\c\\\i\i\B, with a view of piestintr, to 

 the be.-t of our ability, its impoitant claims upon the 

 attention of our readers, and to fumi h regularly 

 such piacticable and seasonable infoimation as will 

 appear to us best adapted to promote its general 

 advancement. 



The planting, management and improvement of 

 orchards, the culture of garden fruits, culinary veg- 

 etables, as well as ornamental gardening, will all be 

 treated upon at the appropriate seasons, and to as 

 great an extent as the space allotted to these pur- 

 poses will admit. 



We are not unaware that in Western New York 

 there is a very considerable amount of excellent fruit 

 cultivated, and many well managed and tasteful gar- 

 dens. Indeed, we fcel no hesitation in saying, and 

 we take a piide in doing so, that there is not another 

 portion of the United States that would compare 

 with it in these respects, considering that the pio- 

 neers are yet living v^^ho reclaimed it from a savage 

 state. But, notwithstanding this, Hoiticulture may 

 be said to be in a state of complete infancy ; for one 

 instance of a well cultivated orchard of choice select 

 fruits, ther eare ten that are nuisances instead of ben- 

 efits, — they do not pay for the land they occupy. 



The cultivation of vegetables is equally, and per- 

 haps more neglected. We have, in a large majority 

 of instance--, in passing around the country, found 

 the vegetable garden the most forbidding spot on 

 the farmer's premises, rich in little else but weeds,; — 

 We feel confident that this will not long be the case. 

 It only requires that sufficient attention be directed 

 to this subject to cause it to be fully and fairly appre- 

 ciated ; and improvement must and will follow. 



In connection with these remarks we had prepar- 

 ed a somewhat lengthy article, setting forth the ad- 

 vantages that may be derived from bestowing a 

 proper degree of attention to these departments of 

 rural economy ; but the want of space compels us 

 to withhold it for the present. The subject, how- 

 ever, is of great importance to the agriculturist, and 

 we will bring it forward before the arrival of spring. 

 In urging, as we will from time to time, the im- 

 provement "^of Horticulture, we will take occasion 

 to do so on other grounds besides that of mere 

 ulility. There are pleasures and moral influences, 

 resulting from it that lay the strongest claim to our 

 attention. Throughout the wide range of human 

 pursuits, not one presents itself so directly to our 

 ideas of rural happiness as the labors of the garden. 

 It is inseparably associated in our m'nds with what- 

 ever man has "done to beautify the surface of the 

 earth, and to it we owe the innumerable luxuries 

 that contribute so largely to the comfort, enjoyment 

 and ornaments of civilized life. There are persons 

 in the world so absorbed with notions of utility 

 or profit, whom it would be difficult if not impossi- 

 ble to persuade to plant even a shade tree opposite 



their dwelling. We v/ould not treat the opinions or 

 feelings of any man on this or any other subject 

 with disrespect. Still we are sorry to meet with 

 such, as we have often done, and we could not avoid 

 the moitifying conclusion that they had pennitted 

 the groser elements of their nature to extinguish the 

 purer and better. Mr. Colman, in his chapter on 

 " Ornamental Shrubs and Florvers,'^ alludes to this 

 matter in his own style. He says, " When a man 

 asks me what is the use of shrubs and flowers, my 

 first impulse always is to look under his hat and 

 see the length of his ears. I am heaitily sick of 

 measuring everything by a standard of mere utility 

 and piofit ; and as heartily do I pity tlie man who 

 can see no good in life but in pecuniary gain, or the 

 mere animal indulgences of eating and drinidng." 



Whether the subject has any connection with the 

 length of the ears, or not, we concur heartily in 

 sentiment with Mr. Colman. 



The planting of trees and shrubs and the embel- 

 li- hment of our gardens by ornamental culture, cre- 

 ate sources of unspeakable pleasure for ourselves, 

 families and fi lends, and besides is a work of genuine 

 patriotism, for our country should be beautiful as 

 well as great and wealthy. The man who plants a 

 row of beautiful trees by his dwelling, raises mon- 

 uments to his taste, that will endure fresh and green, 

 yielding shade and shelter, when the most costly 

 mansion he can erect shall have crumbled to dust and 

 been forgotten. 



The love of garden labor and of flowers is natural 

 to the young, and every parent, however humble 

 maybe "their sphere of lie, should make every pos- 

 sible endeavor to cheiish that love and promote 

 and strengthen its developement, as assiduously as 

 he would guard their bodily health. He will, thereby, 

 increase and strengthen their attachments to home, 

 refine and elevate their minds, retain them from vain, 

 idle and vitiating amusements and company, and have 

 the happiness of seeing them grow up v;ith habits of 

 taste and industry, useful and exemplary members 

 of society. 



The Ladies, however, are true and universal ad- 

 mirers of Flora, and if the men of America were but 

 true to their character for gallantry, they v%-ould 

 make greater exertion and greater sacrifices to grat- 

 ify this eh?gant and innocent taste. Indeed we think 

 in addition to the gallantry of the thing, its utility 

 is susceptible of proof. 



A certain female writer, we forget her mame, re- 

 marks that '' to the ladies of the creation, flowers 

 are a boon beyond all price, and if the gentlemen 

 knew it, to them through their wives. The lady who 

 is fond of her garden, and delights in the cultivation 

 of it, will not seek expensive pleasures abroad. — 

 Home is everything to her, and if her huskand is wise 

 enoucrh to encourage her taste, he is a happy man." 

 What sav you to this, gentlemen 1 We believe 

 there is a" valuable truth there, and would advise all 

 who have not already done it, to try it — try it. 



In the absence of any special or combined eflTort 

 to lu-omote Horticultural improvement, it is the duty 

 of all who feel an interest in this matter to labor, by 

 precept and example, as far as their influence ex- 

 tends. Every man and woman who desires to see 

 improved gardens and orchards in their neighborhood, 

 can if they wish do much towards attaining it, and 

 we respectfully call upon them to be active m doing 

 so. 



