No. 4. 



Address of Dr. William Darlington, S^c. 



119 



the noble cause.* Not satisfied with show- 

 ing us, by their several examples, what can 

 be done by individual enterprize in behalf of 

 horticulture, they sought to concentrate the 

 energies of its friends in a united effort for 

 its advancement. They established this In- 

 stitution, — and invited the co-operation of 

 every one who feels an interest in its laud- 

 able objects. In this movement, too — as 

 always when benefits are to' be conferred 

 upon our race — they have been happily sus- 

 tained by the countenance and participation 

 of the gentler sex. 



With such purposes, and under such aus- 

 pices, we cannot but anticipate the most 

 satisfactory results. As already remarked, 

 the agency of the Society, in extending in- 

 formation, and awakening a perception of 

 the beautiful, cannot fail to be salutary : for 

 the example of a pure taste has an irresisti- 

 ble influence upon all minds which are not 

 utterly insensible to the beauties of nature 

 and art. 



As the classic Portico which adorns our 

 village, will be a sure guarantee against the 

 erection of any uncouth pile in its vicinity, 

 — so will the display of true taste, and the 

 exhibition of practical skill, in Horticulture, 

 Necessarily influence all who have the slight- 

 est aptitude for improvement; aud will event- 

 ually banish from amongst us every vestige 

 of barbarism, in the decoration of our grounds 

 and the management of our gardens. 



The great charm of the scenery, so uni 

 versally felt by those who visit our mother 

 country, consists in the high state of its ag- 

 riculture, and the admirable fitness, and 

 Bj'mmetry, in the arrangements of the gar- 

 dens, and of the lawns, trees, and shrubbery, 

 around the dwellings. These are every way 

 worthy of our studious attention — and pre- 

 sent the purest models for our instruction, 

 in the art of embellishing rural residences. 



Washington Irving — whose judgment in 

 the premises will scarcely be questioned — 

 remarks, that "the taste of the English in 

 the cultivation of land, and in what is called 

 landscape gardening, is unrivalled. They 

 have studied nature intently, and discovered 

 an exquisite sense of her beautiful forms and 

 harmonious combinations. — Those charms 

 which in other countries she lavishes in wild 



* In any notice of the public spirited few, who led 

 the way in introducing an improved Horticulture 

 among us, it would be inexcusable not to mention the 

 laudable example of the Misses Bennett, of this Bo 

 rough— who were among the foremost in cultivating 

 vegetables of a superior quality, and showing how our 

 market may be supplied with the choices: products ol 

 the garden. 



solitudes, are here assembled around the 

 the haunts of domestic life. They seem to 

 have caught her coy and furtive graces, and 

 spread them like witchery about their rural 

 abodes." 



Why should not we, also, commence the 

 capture and domestication of those "coy and 

 furtive graces," which a bountiful nature — 

 or rather, a beneficent Providence — has la- 

 vished upon our own country, — and which 

 haunt every glen, and valley, and hill-side, 

 and mountain top, throughout our favoured 

 land? 



To aid us in this enterprise, we have the 

 elegant and instructive works of Loudon, 

 upon the art as practised in the old world, — 

 and of our accomplished countryman. Down- 

 ing, upon the theory and practice of land- 

 scape gardening, adapted to North America. 

 By the gentleman last named, we have been 

 supplied with a scientific treatise upon the 

 fruits and fruit trees of our country — as well 

 as with instruction in the best modes of laj-- 

 ing out and adorning our grounds: and he 

 is moreover, at this time, publishing a high- 

 ly interesting monthly Magazine, entitled 

 " The Horticulturist, and Journal of Ru- 

 ral Art and Rural Taste.''''* Conducted by 

 such guides — and profiting by the sagacious 

 experience of all nations, if we are docile, 

 attentive, and persevering, we can scarcely 

 fail to accomplish the objects of our Associa- 

 tion. We may hope to be efficiently instru- 

 mental in arousing the public mind, through- 

 out our ancient bailiwick, to a just sense of 

 the importance and value of a perfect Hor- 

 culture. A French king, we are told, ac- 

 quired some celebrity by uttering the bene- 

 volent wish, that he could supply a chicken 

 to the dinner-pot of each of his subjects. 

 That was a mere ebullition of kind feeling, 

 on the part of royalty, — and really added 

 nothing to the meagre dinners of the French 

 people. But the operations and tendencies 

 of Societies such as ours, are calculated to 

 effect something more than mere good 

 wishes. An improved Horticulture will not 

 only fill the dinner-pots with all sorts of nutri- 

 tious esculents — but it will load the tables of 

 all who attend to its teachings, with every 

 variety of delightful fruits. The majesty of 



* To instruct us in the management of the flower 

 and kitchen garden, we have " The American Garden- 

 ers'' Calendar" by the late Bernard M'Maiion — one- 

 of the pioneeris, among us, in the good work of teach- 

 ing Horticulture. Although his book was published 

 forty years ago, it is, in my opinion, about as well 

 adapted to our wants and as replete with good practi- 

 cal common sense— as any thing of the kind which ha* 

 yet appeared in our country. 



