190 



GENESEE FARMER, 



Dec. 1845 



HORTICULTURAL DEPARTMEKT. 



BY P. BARRY. 



CLOSE OF THE YEAR.— OUR PROGRESS 

 AND FUTURE PROSPECTS. 



With this number we close up 1845, a year which 

 may justly be remembered as an epoch in the history 

 of Horticulture. We cannot look back, and survey 

 the progress we have made, without suprise and sat- 

 isfaction, or without indulging high hopes for the fu- 

 ture. To those less familiar with what has trans- 

 pired in these respects than we are, it may possibly 

 appear that we are over sanguine. But it is not so. 

 The increase of new books on the various branches 

 of Horticulture, and the unwonted and unexpected 

 patronage they have received — the increase of nur- 

 sery establishments — the formation of Societies far 

 and wide — the unusual richness of exhibitions, and 

 the general and individual interest every where 

 manifested on the introduction and culture of new 

 and rare fruits, as well as trees, shrubs, and plants of 

 ornament, fully justify all we have said. And as an 

 humble but earnest worker in the cause, we heartily 

 rejoice that it is so. 



During the past year, we have been feebly endeav- 

 oring, with very limited space and facilities, to es- 

 tablish a Horticultural Department in this paper. — 

 We are well aware that all we have done is but a tri- 

 fle; but great things are made up of trifles, and if 

 we have done but a little to promote taste and dif- 

 fuse information, we rest satisfied for the present. 



It gives us pleasure to say to our readers, that they 

 may expect more from us in future. Our pages are 

 to be increased in number, and, we hope, improved. 



We expect to be enabled to present, now and a- 

 gain, drawings of valuable and new fruits, and more 

 comprehensive and satisfactory details on every 

 branch of our subject. 



In order to be able to do this, we must have an in- 

 crease of patronage. And we would most earnestly 

 call upon f very one of our readers who feels an inter- 

 est in the improvement or embellishment of his or 

 her country, to lend a helping hand, not only by 

 way of extending the circulation of the paper, but 

 in furnishing any valuable information they may pos- 

 sess, for the public good. A Horticultural Society 

 is about to be established for the county of Monroe 

 from which we anticipate great assistance in our 

 work, as well as the most beneficial results to the 

 whole community. P. BARRY. 



THE WEATHER— TRANSPLANTING, &c. 



Up to the present moment, Nov. 24, when winter, 

 with its frost and snow, seems to have fairly set in 

 upon us, we have had a beautiful autumn. The 

 weather has been dry, clear, and warm, with just 

 frost enough to bring the foliage from the trees, with- 

 out obstructing for a moment the business of the sea- 

 son . Let no man be heard complaining that his work 

 is unfinished, or th&t winter caught him unawares. 

 The most abundant opportunities have been offered 

 to all, to close up their labors, and prepare for win- 

 ter. 



Throughout on- section of the country, there has 

 been unusual activity in the department of tree plant- 

 ing. The same spirit of improvement that we had 

 the pleasure of recording last spring, seems not to 

 have abated, but on the contrary, to have made a 

 thrifty summers' growth. More trees have been 

 planted since the middle of October last, throughout 

 this section, than there were in any seven autumns 

 preceding. But this is not all. There is a careful- 

 ness and discrimination exercised now, quite unusu- 

 al here. People begin to believe it necessary, not 

 only to have fruit, but to have good fruit, and hence 

 they begin to consult standard works, and carefully 

 prepared catalogues, to aid them in making their se- 

 lections. 



'I'his we hail as a favorable " sign of the times," 

 in regard to fruit culture. When people pre willing 

 to exercise their intellects, and avail themselves of 

 the aid of science in the improvement of their gar 

 dens and orchards, real improvement will unquestion- 

 ably be effected. Hitherto it has not been so. As 

 a general thing, farmers desirous of planting an or- 

 chard, were satisfied with a bundle of trees thrown 

 down at their door, provided ihey were "large enough 

 to be out of the way of cattle." No particular in- 

 quiry was made about the kinds — all were thrown 

 together promiscuously, without mark or label. — 

 Even when an orchard was to be improved by graft- 

 ing, it was generally entrusted to some irresponsi- 

 !ilc, peddling grafter. This system has almost had 

 its day, and we are glad of it. Farmers and their 

 sons should do their own grafting, and procure their 

 scions themselves, from the most correct and respon- 

 sible scourcos. They would then know something of 

 what they were doing, and what they might expect. 



No other department of rural industry yields so 

 large a profit as fruit culture, considering the amount 

 of capital invested, and labor required; and none we 

 are confident, contributes more to the comforts and 

 enjoyments of life. Then why not bestow on it as 

 much attention proportionaly, as you do on your 

 wheat and corn crops ? 



While we thus note the increase of taste for the 

 culture of fine fruits, we can also speak well of the 

 increased attention given to the culture ef ornamen- 

 tal trees and plants. The finest shade trees, and flow- 

 er) ig shrubs, and the splendid new costly roses, even, 

 have been much called for — so that while our gar- 

 dens and orchards are enriched with the rarest and 

 most valuable fruits, ourdooryards, shrubberies, and 

 pleasure grounds are embellished with Nature's most 

 beautiful productions. This, as a friend remarked 

 to us the other day, betokens a good state of morals 

 among our people. What a difl^erence between such 

 a spirit, and that of the speculative period of 1836, 

 or the political manias of 1840 and '44 ! We have 

 all reason to rejoice and be thankful for the change. 



SEEDLING FRUITS. 



We have on hand several notices of fine seedling 

 fruits, which we intend to present when we find suf- 

 ficient leisure, perhaps in the next number. Among 

 them are a fine autumn apple from A. B. Rapalje, Esq. 

 of Farmington, Ontario Co. An excellent autumn 

 sweet apple from Chs. Gohun, Esq., of Liv. Co., 

 and the magnificent pear, known here in Rochester 

 as " Swan's Onondaga Seedling," raised, or intro- 

 duced, by the father of L. B. Swan Esq., of our 

 city. 



